Dry, washable and reusable surface cleaning substrate loaded with cleaning composition

Abstract

A surface cleaning substrate, which is essentially dry and loaded with a cleaning composition, which may very suitably be stored and transported in its dry form and which may be activated for surface cleaning by simple addition of a carrier, such as water. A method for the manufacture of such a loaded dry substrate, and to the method of surface cleaning using such a loaded dry substrate is also disclosed.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A process of loading a reusable and washable surface cleaning substrate for repeated use and wash cycles with a cleaning composition, comprising the following steps:
 a) providing:
 a washable and reusable substrate pad 
 a cleaning composition; 
 an impregnating aid; and 
 a pH adjustment capable of adjusting a pH to slightly acidic conditions; 
 
 b) combining said impregnating aid with said substrate pad,
 (i) during the washing of the substrate prior to providing said washed substrate, or 
 (ii) separately after the washing but before addition of the cleaning composition in a liquid form or by means of an impregnating aid carrier, 
 
 c) loading the substrate pad by combining the substrate pad with said cleaning composition, and 
 d) thermally treating the loaded pad, thereby
 removing residual carrier to a liquid carrier load of less than 15 weight-%, on a dry weight basis of the substrate; and 
 immobilizing at least 1 weight-% on the basis of weight of the dry substrate of said cleaning composition on the surface of or in said substrate. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said cleaning composition comprises:
 (i) non-ionic or amphoteric surfactants or 
 (ii) alkaline surfactants. 
 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said impregnating aid is a poly-electrolyte. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said impregnating carrier is selected from the group consisting of aqueous and solvent based liquids. 
     
     
       5. The method for the cleaning of surfaces with a reusable and washable substrate for repeated use and wash cycles, said method comprising the following steps in the following order:
 1) providing: 
 a reusable washable substrate pad; 
 a washing liquor comprising a washing composition and a washing carrier; 
 a cleaning composition, 
 an impregnating aid, and 
 a cleaning carrier for the cleaning; 
 2) washing the substrate with the washing liquor, and if present removing dirt from the substrate; 
 3) loading the substrate pad by combining the substrate pad with the cleaning composition, 
 4) thermally treating the loaded pad, thereby 
 removing residual carrier to a liquid carrier load of less than 15% on a dry weight basis of the substrate, and 
 immobilizing at least 1 weight-% on the basis of weight of the dry substrate of said cleaning composition in or on the surface of said substrate, 
 5) storing and/or transporting the loaded dried substrate to a cleaning location; 
 6) wetting the loaded dry substrate with a cleaning carrier; 
 7) cleaning a cleaning surface with said wetted substrate, thererby collecting dirt on or in the substrate; 
 8) storing/transporting the dirt loaded substrate to a washing location, 
 said method further comprising the step of adding an impregnating aid, wherein said impregnating aid is added by at least one of the following steps:
 (i) during the washing of the substrate prior to providing said washed substrate; 
 (ii) separately after the washing but before addition of the cleaning composition in a liquid form or by means of an impregnating aid carrier; 
 
 wherein the impregnating aid may comprise same compounds or different compounds for any of these steps (i) to (ii), and 
 repeating steps 1) to 8) in a recycling loop. 
 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said washing carrier, said impregnating carrier, if present, and said cleaning carrier are aqueous liquids. 
     
     
       7. A process of loading a reusable and washable surface cleaning substrate with a cleaning composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said slightly acidic conditions are a pH of between 3.5 and 5.5. 
     
     
       8. A process of loading a reusable and washable surface cleaning substrate with a cleaning composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said pH adjustment is citric acid. 
     
     
       9. A process of loading a reusable and washable surface cleaning substrate with a cleaning composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said thermal treatment is executed between 50° C. and 90° C. 
     
     
       10. A process of loading a reusable and washable surface cleaning substrate with a cleaning composition according to  claim 1 , whereby residual carrier is removed to a liquid carrier load of less than 10 weight-% on a dry weight basis of the substrate. 
     
     
       11. A process of loading a reusable and washable surface cleaning substrate with a cleaning composition according to  claim 1 , wherein more than 20 weight-% on the basis of weight of the dry substrate of said cleaning composition are immobilized on the surface of or in said substrate. 
     
     
       12. A process of loading a reusable and washable surface cleaning substrate with a cleaning composition according to  claim 1 , wherein more than 40 weight-% on the basis of weight of the dry substrate of said cleaning composition are immobilized on the surface of or in said substrate. 
     
     
       13. A method according to  claim 2 , wherein said non-ionic or amphoteric surfactants are selected from the group consisting of ethoxylated or propoxylated fatty acids, fatty alcohols, alkylamineethoxylates, and glucosides. 
     
     
       14. A method according to  claim 3 , wherein said poly-electrolyte is an anionic poly-electrolyte.